2002 Toyota Prius reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2002 Toyota Prius — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 201
- 2 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- STEERING
- 57 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 1
- see below
- Reported harm
- 16 reported crashes · 13 injuries · 5 deaths · 5 fires
What owners report fails — 2002 Toyota Prius
- STEERING 57
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 13
- TIRES 12
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 10
1 recall on record for the 2002 Toyota Prius
- NHTSA 11V304000 · 2011 · STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM LOSS OF POWER STEERING, PARTICULARLY WHEN AN OPERATOR IS ACTIVELY INTENDING TO STEER THE VEHICLE, MAY INCREASE THE RISK
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2002 Toyota Prius
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2002 Toyota Prius units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Toyota Prius reliable?
NHTSA has 201 consumer complaints on record for the 2002 Toyota Prius and 1 recall. The most-reported problem area is steering (57 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2002 Toyota Prius units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Toyota Prius?
Owners most often report problems with: steering (57), electrical system (13), service brakes, hydraulic (13), tires (12). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2002 Toyota Prius?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.